Reveley claims Merano crown

Reveley claims Merano crown

James Reveley has paid tribute to French trainer Guillaume Macaire after guiding Rigoureux to victory in the Gran Premio di Merano.

Reveley eased the 10-year-old to a facile success in the €380,000 contest which takes Rigoureux's winning sequence to 13.

Reveley speaking exclusively to www.cdhorseracingtours.com said: "Rigoureux made it very easy for me and it was a comfortable win, things were made easier for me when Alarm Call (joint-favourite) crashed out.

"I wasn't aware that he had fallen at the time, but I could see the horses in front and wasn't worried by any of them, to be honest even if Alarm Call hadn't fallen I think the feel Rigoureux gave me we would have won anyway. I knew going out onto the final circuit that I had the race in the bag.

"I think a lot of credit for the success has to go to Mr Macaire and how well Rigoureux has been placed - that's 13 in a row he has now won which is amazing. I think that could well be it for the horse this season as he's a 10-year-old and I'd imagine everything will now be planned around trying to win this race again next year."

Reveley, who returns to England at the end of the week after completing his fourth summer with Macaire, concluded: "I'm back at the end of the week and I intend to give it my best shot, I'll be riding for my Dad (Keith) and hope to pick-up rides with other stables and keep the winnings coming."

Meanwhile, Jamie Moore rode a double on the card when scoring on the Christian Von Der Recke-trained pair Our First Chestnut and Maxwil.